Hello members of the Vermont State Women’s Golf Association! The golf season is here,
and it’s time to report on what’s happening with our organization.

Things will be
somewhat different for us in 2017, and into the future.

The biggest changes come as a result of new mandates from the United States Golf
Association. To provide better services to golfers and golf facilities, the USGA
is instituting more streamlined methods for GHIN handicapping and course rating procedures.
It’s contracting with newly created Affiliated Golf Associations (AGAs) to achieve
this goal. The contracts go into effect January 1, 2018.

State and regional associations
were asked to provide the USGA with data on their organizational structure, services,
golf events, and finances. The USGA used this data to determine which groups would
make the best AGAs.

Most state women’s associations chose to merge all their operations
with their respective men’s associations to create an AGA. We did not. Instead, we
signed an agreement with the Vermont Golf Association under which our two groups
will collaborate in several areas to fulfill our requirements to the USGA.

The VGA
was named the official AGA for Vermont. The VSWGA remains a mostly independent entity
with the same name, logo, Board of Directors and website, and with the same responsibility
for running its own tournaments.

The VGA is now collecting fees from all Vermont women
golfers who maintain a GHIN handicap and is compensating us accordingly. It’s coordinating
with us on course ratings. And it’s providing technical support to clubs using the
USGA’s new tournament software that will replace TPP. We’ll likely start using it
in 2018.

The VGA is now handling all handicap questions and issues, and has already
begun sending out a combined VGA-VSWGA e-revision on the 1st and 15th of each month.
I hope you’ve noticed. Look on the right side for VSWGA news and information.

An unfortunate
downside to the collaboration is that the VSWGA will no longer have a Handicap Chair.
So I’d like to take this opportunity to recognize Harriet Parot for the 15+ years
she served in this capacity. Harriet was always ready to answer our questions and
fix our mistakes asap. So a huge Thank You to Harriet!

Another change on the horizon
is the need for a new Web Administrator. Cindy Paquet has decided to “retire” at
the end of this year. She, too, has served for many years -- creating and maintaining
a site that keeps us up-to-date while preserving our history in photographs and text.
It’s amazing. So another huge Thank You to Cindy for a job well done! (and if you’re
interested in the job, please let me know.)

Other changes involve our State Day procedures. You’ll find this information in the
Member Handbook, but here’s a re-cap.

-- To support the USGA’s efforts to increase
golf opportunities for all players, we have opened State Days to women who maintain
a handicap through the Lakeside Golf Club, which is administered through the VGA.
This means you no longer have to join a real estate club to play. You still have
to be a dues-paying member of the VSWGA and start the season with an index no higher
than 36.0 unless you have been granted a handicap waiver.

-- There’s a small increase
in the State Day fee this year. It’s now $8. You’ll pay this at registration, plus
$2 for the Closest to the Pin contest if you choose to participate.

-- You’ll pay
the course fee ($20 for 18-hole courses; $15 for 9-hole courses), and any cart fee,
directly to the club in the Pro Shop.

-- You can register online for State Day tee
times until noon on the Thursday before the event. Pairings will be made just once,
and will be emailed on Thursdays at 5:00pm. Any changes after that must be made directly
through the Pro Shop or other contact number in our handbook. Do not call or email
the VSWGA office.

-- We’re hoping to schedule some “Bring a Friend to State Day” events
so prospective VSWGA members can experience the fun. Stay tuned.

In other matters, we’re NOT scheduling any club rep meetings this Spring. It’s always
fun to get together, but low participation doesn’t justify the expense.

We’re working
on bringing our Facebook page back to life so our community of golfers can share
their thoughts and photographs. And we’ve got a new volunteer committee to look into
the future of women’s golf in the Green Mountain State.

The Board has been working
hard on ways to put our association on a more profitable and sustainable financial
footing. We’ve had losses in recent years, and that can’t continue or we’ll be out
of business. And we can’t expect anyone else to subsidize our losses.

One suggestion
was to ask for donations, and many of you have stepped up to the tee, so to speak.
The Board is extremely grateful for this extra support. Thank you!

While a lot of
things are changing, the VSWGA’s mission has not. We will continue to promote interest
in golf and provide golf opportunities for as many women as possible here in Vermont
– all the things we’ve been doing so well since 1930.